There wasn’t much nervousness on Klara Bühl’s part – but even the national player couldn’t deny the pressure that was on FC Bayern’s footballers ahead of their early premier class “final”. “We know that this is a big challenge”said Bühl before the groundbreaking duel Paris St Germain, “But I’m sure we’ll give 100 percent from the first minute.”
On Tuesday evening (January 30, 2024, 9 p.m.), the Munich team will have their backs to the wall in the last Champions League group game of the season. “It’s a tricky situation”said coach Alexander Straus, “We know what is expected of us.” For Bayern, who started the season with big goals, only a win against Paris counts; anything else would not be enough to progress.
Not only is the German champion threatened with the sudden end of all dreams, but also German football is facing a bitter premiere: since the introduction of the Champions League for the 2001/02 season – back then as UEFA Women’s Cup – there was always at least one German team in the quarter-finals.
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Because last year’s finalists VfL Wolfsburg (qualification) and Eintracht Frankfurt (group stage) have already been eliminated, Bayern have to shoulder the responsibility alone. And even the competition is keeping its fingers crossed. According to Wolfsburg coach Tommy Stroot, Bundesliga teams can go far internationally “Perhaps the most important factor in keeping the women’s Bundesliga valuable in the long term”.
After all, the success of a single year has a significant impact on the possibilities of the future. Thanks to second place in UEFA’s five-year ranking behind France, Germany would have two starting places in the premier class from 2025. If, yes if, Spain and defending champions FC Barcelona or the ever-growing English clubs are not overtaken by then.
Ascending form
Straus is also aware of the importance of the game for German football. “But”said the Norwegian, “We must first and foremost take responsibility for ourselves.” At least there was some encouragement for the recently weakening Munich team. The win against TSG Hoffenheim (1-0) gave the team a boost “definitely self-confidence”said national player Giulia Gwinn, although she emphasized with a view to the “final” against Paris, “There’s another chunk coming our way.”
Bayern showed in the first leg how it can still work against the French. They won 1-0 in Paris in November, their only win in the group stage so far. A second would be more than welcome on Tuesday.